A6 (Croatia)

A6 motorway shield
A6 motorway
Autocesta A6
Goranka
Map key – green in use Map key – blue other motorways
Route information
Part of European route E65 shield
Length80.2 km (49.8 mi)
Major junctions
From A1 in Bosiljevo 2 interchange
Major intersections D3 in Delnice interchange
D501 in Oštrovica interchange
D40 in Čavle interchange
To A7 in Orehovica interchange
Location
CountryCroatia
CountiesKarlovac, Primorje-Gorski Kotar
Major citiesVrbovsko, Delnice, Rijeka
Highway system

The A6 motorway (Croatian: Autocesta A6) is a motorway in Croatia spanning 80.2 kilometres (49.8 mi).[1] It connects the nation's capital, Zagreb, via the A1, to the seaport of Rijeka.[2] The motorway forms a major north–south transportation corridor in Croatia and is a part of European route E65 Nagykanizsa–Zagreb–Rijeka–ZadarSplitDubrovnikPodgorica. The A6 motorway route also follows Pan-European corridor Vb.[3]

The A6 motorway runs near a number of Croatian cities, provides access to Risnjak National Park and indirectly to numerous resorts, notably in the Istria and Kvarner Gulf regions. The motorway route was completed in 2008. The motorway is nationally significant because of its positive economic impact on the cities and towns it connects, and because of its contribution to tourism in Croatia.[4] The importance of the motorway as a transit route will be further increased upon completion of a proposed expansion of the Port of Rijeka and Rijeka transport node.[5][6][7]

A trumpet motorway interchange
Bosiljevo 2 interchange, the northern terminus of the A6 motorway

The motorway consists of two traffic lanes and an emergency lane in each driving direction separated by a central reservation. Sections of the motorway that have a gradient greater than 4% are divided into three lanes to prevent traffic problems caused by slower vehicles. These sections have no emergency lanes. Similarly, there are no emergency lanes in the tunnels. All intersections of the A6 motorway are grade separated. As the route traverses rugged mountains it requires numerous long bridges, viaducts, tunnels, and other structures. As of 2010 there are nine exits and three rest areas situated along the route.[8] The majority of the motorway is a ticket system toll road with pricing tied to vehicle classification. Each exit between Grobnik mainline toll plaza and Bosiljevo 2 interchange has a toll plaza. No toll is charged at Bosiljevo 2 where the traffic switches to the A1 motorway; traffic is tolled upon leaving the A1 motorway. Exits between the mainline toll plaza and Orehovica interchange have no toll plazas, as that part of the A6 route is not tolled.[9]

A motorway connecting Zagreb and Rijeka was originally designed in the early 1970s, and construction started north of Rijeka and south of Zagreb. The first section, between Rijeka and Kikovica, opened on September 9, 1972, and a Zagreb–Karlovac section followed on December 29, 1972. Those sections were the first modern motorways to be built in Croatia and Yugoslavia.[10] Due to political upheavals in Croatia and Yugoslavia, construction of the motorway was labeled a "nationalist project" and, along with the proposed Zagreb–Split motorway, was cancelled in 1971.[11] After the Croatian War of Independence, efforts to build the motorway were renewed and construction resumed in 1996. In 2004, a two-lane, single carriageway expressway was completed between the sections completed 25 years previously, and the second carriageway was built; the motorway was completed on October 22, 2008. Construction costs are estimated at 661.5 million euro.[12] Although Hrvatske autoceste normally designs, builds, and operates motorways in Croatia, the A6 motorway is operated and maintained by Autocesta Rijeka – Zagreb.[13][14]

  1. ^ "Overview of motorways and semi-motorways". HUKA. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  2. ^ "Pravilnik o označavanju autocesta, njihove stacionaže, brojeva izlaza i prometnih čvorišta te naziva izlaza, prometnih čvorišta i odmorišta" [Regulation on motorway markings, chainage, interchange/exit/rest area numbers and names]. Narodne novine (in Croatian). May 6, 2003. Retrieved September 6, 2010.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference EU-Corridors was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Jelena Lončar (December 14, 2007). "Međuovisnost prometa i turizma u Hrvatskoj" [Interdependency of transport and tourism in Croatia] (in Croatian). geografija.hr. Archived from the original on June 9, 2011. Retrieved September 6, 2010.
  5. ^ "Proširenje lučkih kapaciteta u Rijeci" [Expansion of Port of Rijeka facilities] (in Croatian). Croatian Radiotelevision. October 3, 2010. Archived from the original on May 3, 2010. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  6. ^ Darko Pajić (July 3, 2010). "Četiri poslovne zone za 40 milijuna tona tereta riječke luke" [Four business zones for 40 million tons of cargo handled by Port of Rijeka]. Novi list (in Croatian). Archived from the original on July 8, 2010. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  7. ^ "Realizacija prometnog čvora Rijeka kao pretpostavka gospodarskog razvoja županije" [Execution of Rijeka transport node as a precondition of economic development of the county] (PDF) (in Croatian). Primorje-Gorski Kotar County. September 2, 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 13, 2011. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  8. ^ "Croatian Motorways (pp. 322–365)". Hrvatske autoceste. Archived from the original on 2011-02-18. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  9. ^ "Tolls – price list". Autocesta Rijeka–Zagreb. Retrieved October 10, 2010.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference Žmigavac-ARZ was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Jakša Miličić (2004). "Autocesta Split – Zagreb" [Autocesta Split – Zagreb]. Hrvatska revija (in Croatian). Matica hrvatska. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference MMPI-A6-otvaranje2008 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ "Odluka o osnivanju dioničkog društva Autocesta Rijeka – Zagreb d.d. i dodjeli koncesije za građenje i gospodarenje autocestom Rijeka – Zagreb" [Decision on founding of Rijeka – Zagreb Motorway joint stock company and granting of concession regulating construction and management of Rijeka – Zagreb motorway]. Narodne Novine (in Croatian). December 11, 1997. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved September 6, 2010.
  14. ^ "Zakon o javnim cestama" [Public Roads Act]. Narodne Novine (in Croatian). December 14, 2004. Retrieved September 6, 2010.